Forward Porter Martone #94 of Team CHL skates against Team USA during the CHL USA Prospects Challenge at Canada Life Place on November 26, 2024 in London, Ontario. (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)
(Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – It’s NHL Draft week, and with the Utah Mammoth owning the fourth overall pick in Friday’s opening round, our NHL reporter Cole Bagley and Utah Hockey Podcast Co-Host Michael Wolfe compiled their top five prospects that could potentially end up in a Mammoth sweater.
The first round of the draft will be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California on Friday, June 27, while rounds two through seven will be on Saturday.
Related: Possible NHL Draft Scenarios For Utah Mammoth After Winning 4th Overall Pick
I would not be mad if the Mammoth chose Hagens because he might be the best player available at the No. 4 spot.
In the draft, it’s generally all about selecting the best player available.
James Hagens scores again!🚨🚨 #U18MensWorlds #USASUI @usahockey pic.twitter.com/429jO5neCf
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 2, 2024
However, I would be surprised if Utah selected him because that’s not what they need right now.
He is a really good scorer but he’s smaller, not as heavy and doesn’t have a super physical game.
Instead, Utah needs a power forward.
Appearing on most mock drafts as a consensus top 10 selection, Frondell is a powerful and highly skilled center with a wicked shot, great vision, good hands and a very complete 200-foot-game.
Related: Who Will The Utah Mammoth Pick At 4? NHL Draft Profiles: Anton Frondell
Boasting one of the best shots in this year’s draft, Frondell’s release is simply nasty.
Whether he’s blasting a fierce one-timer, sniping the goaltender from a distance or on the breakaway, Frondell is an absolute nightmare when he decides to put one on net.
However, the reason I place him at No. 5 is his apparent inconsistency.
From his inability to earn meaningful minutes with Djurgården’s top team to his production struggles at the international level and failing to make Sweden’s 2025 World Junior team, Frondell has been known to experience fairly hot and cold streaks.
For that reason, He comes in at No. 5 on my list.
O’Brien would be a really good addition for the Utah Mammoth as they are currently lacking in the middle and he could potentially fill that need.
Related: Who Will The Utah Mammoth Pick At 4? NHL Draft Profiles: Jake O’Brien
Additionally, O’Brien also has a bigger game which could help him lean into more of a power forward role and he’s a fantastic distributor which may allow him to develop into Utah’s eventual second line center.
However, O’Brien doesn’t appear to be a guy that a lot of teams are considering that early so it would likely require Utah trading down if they were to select him.
Hagens is an elite playmaker with exceptional skating, great vision, quick hands, good speed and a high level of awareness.
Related: Who Will The Utah Mammoth Pick At 4? NHL Draft Profiles: James Hagens
Arguably the best creator in the draft, Hagens utilizes all of his skills to effectively navigate the offensive zone and consistently create dangerous opportunities.
Whether he’s dangling through defensemen with the puck on a string, threading tight passing lanes, flying up the ice with speed or attacking the net with ferocity, Hagens is constantly crafting ways to put himself and his teammates in positions to light the lamp.
But as Wolfe pointed out, Hagens size is somewhat of a concern at center as he stands just 5-foot-11, 176 pounds.
Additionally, with players like Logan Cooley and Clayton Keller on Utah’s roster, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense to add a player with a similar skillset.
Utah needs size and scoring rather than another primary playmaker.
I wanted to rank Martin higher but just given the talent of my No. 1 and No. 2 selections, it was hard to justify placing him above them.
While he did not start the season with as much draft buzz as others, he’s gained a lot of traction over the last few weeks.
With his big body and physical style, Martin may be the best true power forward in the draft and Utah should still heavily consider him.
This is what “Farm Strong” looks like.
Brady Martin plays big and physical.#TusksUppic.twitter.com/IF5CvWBxGM
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) June 8, 2025
Arguably one of the most competitive and fiercest skaters in the draft, the young center plays so much bigger than his actual size with an unforgiving and physical power-forward style of play.
Related: Who Will The Utah Mammoth Pick At 4? NHL Draft Profiles: Brady Martin
Despite standing just six feet tall, Martin is an absolute force as he consistently delivers punishing hits all over the ice, battle in the trenches and is a pest around the net.
As demonstrated by his offensive success this past season for the Greyhounds, Martin has noticeable vision with the puck on his stick as he was able to consistently find teammates in dangerous scoring positions.
Additionally, Martin also has as lethal shot that some would consider nearly NHL ready as his catch and release allows him to blast pucks past netminders.
But similar to Wolfe, I have Martin at No. 3 because I don’t know that he has quite as much offensive upside as my top two selections.
However, I also believe that Martin may have the most potential to be the steal of this draft as the fiercest power forward.
I have no doubt that Porter Martone could be the best player in this draft.
While Utah may not necessarily need a wing right now, it simply does not matter and it’s tough to imagine Utah passing on him if he’s still available at No. 4.
He can score, he can dish, he’s got a great shot and he’s bigger.
As Bill Armstrong attempts to build a forest, Martone is going to be an absolute unit as he currently stands 6-foot-3 with the potential to keep growing.
Arguably one of the best playmakers in the draft, Desnoyers is a threat from anywhere in the offensive zone as he’s able to consistently place the puck in dangerous areas for either himself or his teammates.
Related: Who Will The Utah Mammoth Pick At 4? NHL Draft Profiles: Caleb Desnoyers
Whether he’s driving towards the net, surveying the zone, crowding the crease or weaving through defensemen, Desnoyers processes the game lightning fast which allows him to make threatening plays.
But the No. 1 reason that Desnoyers has shot up draft boards as of late is primarily due to his absolutely elite MVP performance in QMJHL playoffs this past season.
With a blistering 30 points in 19 games, the young center led the Moncton Wildcats to a championship.
Who are other NHL players with similar production in years past? Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon.
Elite company and the type of player you want on your team in the postseason.
With his ability to pass the puck, he has this sense for the game that you just don’t see a lot.
His ability to delay plays, create space and make little touch passes that set up goals and turn into points is the best in the draft.
Martone is a certified offensive menace in every sense of the word.
Related: Who Will The Utah Mammoth Pick At 4? NHL Draft Profiles: Porter Martone
He attacks the net with ferocity, battles near the crease, undresses defensemen, directs traffic, consistently makes the right plays, is dangerous from any area and can anticipate the game before it happens.
In addition to all that, the reason I have Martone at No. 1 is because of his size and potential to be a menacing power forward in the NHL.
With some comparisons to the Tkachuk brothers, Martone possesses the skills and frame that are both flourishing and rare.
Utah needs a big, offensive minded behemoth to get under the oppositions skin and help command the net front.
I believe Martone could be that player and would be the best selection at No. 4.
Following the conclusion of the Utah Mammoth’s inaugural season, the next notable event will be the NHL Draft on June 27 and 28.
After recently drawing the fourth overall draft pick in the 2025 NHL draft, each of Utah’s upcoming draft selections will be dressed in the new Utah Mammoth home sweater.
Full story: Utah Hockey Club Draws No. 4 Overall Pick In 2025 NHL Draft Lottery
